Shattered Mirror (Eve Duncan #23)(81)

“You are afraid,” Norwalk said roughly. “You’re just pretending you’re not. Why shouldn’t you be afraid? You jump in the water and try to get away, and the alligators will get you. I had a steel net put up to keep them away from the waters near this island. But all I’d have to do is have those guys lift it and let them in.” He nodded at the four men with rifles on either side of the island. “Or maybe my men will shoot your head off. Either way, you’re dead and will never see your mother again. And see that box of explosives over there by the shack? I might decide to tie some dynamite to you and set it off. Like all your little friends that I blew up in that shop in the square. All alone and stone-cold dead.” His gaze narrowed on Michael’s face and his eyes lit with satisfaction as he saw him blinking back the tears. “Ah, that got you, didn’t it?”

“They’re not alone.” He moistened his lips as he looked out at the bayou. “But I’m lonely for them. We’re all lonely for them.”

“You’ll be able to join them soon. But not before I’m ready. That’s why I brought you out of that shack to show you how stupid it would be for you to try to escape.”

Michael shook his head. “That’s not why. I bother you. You’re beginning to wish that you hadn’t had to take me. You think that if you can make me afraid, you’ll feel better about it.”

He could see the anger flare in Norwalk’s eyes even before he felt pain as Norwalk brutally struck him in the face. He dropped into the mud of the bank. “Stupid kid. What do you know? Yes, you bother me. How do you like the way I’m dealing with it now?” He jerked Michael to his feet and shoved him up the slope toward the shack. “Keep your eye on that alligator. You’re going to become very close in the next few days.”

*

“I was totally magnificent,” Darcy said as she swept into the parlor where Eve and Cara were sitting that afternoon. “Of course, I did a little shopping for myself.” She tossed several boxes on the brocade couch. “But I devoted most of my efforts to saving Jock’s ass while he was questioning those poor clerks at Home Depot.” She turned as Jock followed her into the room. “They didn’t actually kneel to me, but they went the extra mile, didn’t they? And all you had to do was stand there and look slightly threatening.”

“So which worked?” Eve asked. “Charm or threats?”

“Charm.” Jock’s lips twisted. “By the time she’d spent three minutes with them, they couldn’t even see anyone else.”

“Standard operational procedure,” Cara said. “She never fails. I’m glad that she came through for you.” She looked at Darcy. “I could have wished for a little more than that short text message to tell me why you took off with Jock. It wasn’t like you.”

“No one is behaving as they usually do,” Darcy said. “We’re all just trying to survive as best we can. I’m falling back on automatic.” She smiled. “And, as I said, my automatic is magnificent.” She looked around the room. “Where’s Kaskov?”

“In his study, trying to pretend that we aren’t here,” Eve said. “We’ll try to pretend that, too, until it’s necessary that we don’t.” She looked at Jock. “Tell me that you’ve found something to let us know where that bastard is holding my son.”

He shook his head. “The description matched Macvey’s photo. And we got a description of his truck and maybe the dock where he loaded the wood to be shipped. He had to have it delivered, the bed of his truck was too small to carry it all. It’s a dock on the north side of New Orleans. Near Lake Pontchartrain. I’ll head out there right away. Have you heard from Joe?”

“He should be getting in about an hour from now,” Eve said. “Wait for him.” She grimaced. “I could tell when I talked to him that he was holding on by a thread. He needs to do something that doesn’t involve being behind a desk or doing detective work. Michael is his son.”

“I’ll wait. I have to talk to Nikolai anyway.” He looked at Cara. “You’re okay?”

She nodded. “Sure, it’s just been a long day. I would have felt better if I’d been able to go with you and done something valuable.” She smiled faintly. “But that wouldn’t have worked out. No one is going to fall on their knees to please me.”

He met her eyes. “I wouldn’t be too sure.”

“Yep, it only takes the right audience,” Darcy said as she started to gather up the boxes she’d thrown on the couch. “But take a couple of these boxes up for me, will you, Cara? I need to wash up and change. I bought a gorgeous peacock-colored maxi skirt that’s perfectly stunning. But being magnificent in this muggy climate is a chore. We can talk while I change.” She glanced over her shoulder at Jock, and said quietly, “Thanks. I’m ready now.” Then she was flying out of the parlor and heading for the staircase. “Come on, Cara. I need you. I can only manage to be strong and magnificent for so long.”

*

“All that trouble, all that planning,” Cara said bitterly. “Just to bring you and Sylvie into his grand scenario.” She went to where Darcy was sitting on the couch at the foot of the bed and dropped down beside her. Then she drew Darcy’s head down to rest on her shoulder. “Even bribing someone to arrange us to room together? Crazy.”